Skip to main content

Social and Hormonal Determinants of Reproductive Patterns in the Prairie Vole

  • Conference paper
Book cover Neurobiology

Part of the book series: Proceedings in Life Sciences ((LIFE SCIENCES))

Abstract

The prairie vole, Microtus ochrogaster, is a small North American rodent which has been studied intensively by ecologists. Like many other microtine rodents, the prairie vole shows dramatic population fluctuations. The factors regulating population levels in this species in nature are not fully known, but may relate to the social organization and reproductive physiology of the species (Getz 1978; Getz and Carter 1980).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Batzli GO, Lowell LG, Hurley SS (1977) Suppression of growth and reproduction of microtine rodents by social factors. J Mammal 58:583–591

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carter CS, Landauer MR, Tierney BH, Jones T (1976) Regulation of female sexual behavior in the golden hamster: behavioral effects of mating and ovarian hormones. J Comp Physiol Psychol 90:839–950

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carter CS, Getz LL, Gavish L, McDermott JL, Arnold P (1980) Male-related pheromones and the activation of female reproduction in the prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster). Biol Reprod 23: 1038–1045

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carter CS, Getz LL, Cohen-Parsons M (in press) Social organization and behavioral endocrinology in a monogamous mammal. Advances in the Study of Behavior

    Google Scholar 

  • Carter CS, Witt DM, Schneider J, Harris ZL, Volkening D (submitted for publication) Natural estrus induction in the prairie vole (Microtusochrogaster)

    Google Scholar 

  • Clark AS, Roy EJ (1983) Behavioral and cellular responses to pulses of low doses of estradiol-17B. Physiol Behav 30:561–565

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dluzen DE, Carter CS (1979) Ovarian hormones regulating sexual and social behaviors in female prairie es, Microtus ochrogaster. Physiol Behav 23:597–600

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dluzen DE, Ramirez VD, Carter CS, Getz LL (1981) Male vole urine changes luteinizing hormone- releasing hormone and norepinephrine in female olfactory bulb. Science (Wash DC) 212:573–575

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fuentes SM, Dewbury DA (1984) Copulatory behavior in voles (Microtus montanus and M. ochrogaster) in multiple-female test situations. J Comp Physiol Psychol 98:45–53

    Google Scholar 

  • Gavish L, Carter CS, Getz LL (1981) Further evidence for monogamy in the prairie vole. Anim Behav 29:955–957

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gavish L, Carter CS, Getz LL (1983) Male-female interactions in prairie voles. Anim Behav 31: 511–517

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gavish L, Hofmann JE, Getz LL (1984) Sibling recognition in the prairie vole, Microtus ochrogaster. Anim Behav 32:362–366

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Getz LL (1978) Speculation on social structure and population cycles of microtine rodents. Biologist 60:134–147

    Google Scholar 

  • Getz LL, Carter CS (1980) Social organization in Microtus ochrogaster populations. Biologist 62: 56–69

    Google Scholar 

  • Getz LL, Carter CS, Gavish L (1981) The mating system of the prairie Microtus ochrogaster: field and laboratory evidence for pair-bonding. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 8:189–194

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Getz LL, Dluzen D, McDermott JL (1983) Suppression of reproductive maturation in male-stimulated virgin from Q Microtus by a female urinary chemosignal. Behav Processes 8:59–64

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gray GD, Dewsbury DA (1973) A quantitative description of copulatory behavior in prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster). Brain Behav Evol 8:437–452

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gray GD, Zerylnick M, Davis HN, Dewsbury DA (1974) Effects of variations in male copulatory behavior on ovulation and implanation in prairie voles, Microtus ochrogaster. Horm Behav 5: 389–396

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gray GD, Davis HN, Kenney AMCM, Dewsbury DA (1976) Effect of mating on plasma levels of LH and protesterone in montane voles (Microtus montanus). J Reprod Fertil 47:89–91

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gruder-Adams S, Getz LL (1985) Comparison of the mating system and parental behavior in Microtus ochrogaster andM. pennsylvanicus. J Mammal 66:165–167

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Härtung TG, Dewsbury DA (1979) Paternal behavior in six species of muroid rodents. Behav Neural Biol 26:466–478

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hasler MJ, Nalbandov AV (1974) The effect of weanling and adult males on sexual maturation in female voles(Microtus ochrogaster). Gen Comp Endocrinol 23:237–238

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hofmann JE, Getz LL, Gavish L (1984) Home range overlap and nest cohabitation of male and female prairie voles. Am Midi Nat 112:314–319

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huck UW, Carter CS, Banks EM (1982) Natural or hormone induced sexual and social behaviors in the female brown lemming,Lemmus trimucronatus. Horm Behav 16:199–207

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kleiman D (1977) Monogamy in mammals. Q Rev Biol 52:39–69

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Madison DM (1980) An integrated view of the social biology of Microtus pennsylvanicus. Biologist 62:20–33

    Google Scholar 

  • McDermott JL, Carter CS (1980) Ovarian hormones, copulatory stimuli and female sexual behavior in the Mongolian gerbil. Horm Behav 14:211–223

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McGuire MR, Getz LL (1981) Incest taboo between sibling M/croms ochrogaster. J Mammal 62: 213–215

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moss RL, McCann SM (1973) Induction of mating behavior in rats by luteinizing hormone-releasing factor. Science (Wash DC) 181:177–179

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pfaff DW (1973) Luteinizing hormone-releasing factor potentiates lordosis behavior in hypophy- sectomized ovariectomized female rats. Science (Wash DC) 182:1148–1149

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Richmond ME, Conaway CH (1969) Induced ovulation and oestrus in Microtus ochrogaster. J Reprod Fert Suppl 6:357–376

    Google Scholar 

  • Richmond M, Stehn R (1976) Olfaction and reproductive behavior in microtine rodents. In: Doty RL (ed) Mammalian olfaction, reproductive processes and behavior. Academic, New York, pp 197–217

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas JA, Bimey EC (1979) Parental care and mating system of the prairie vole, Microtus ochrogaster. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 5:171–186

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1985 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

Carter, C.S., Getz, L.L. (1985). Social and Hormonal Determinants of Reproductive Patterns in the Prairie Vole. In: Gilles, R., Balthazart, J. (eds) Neurobiology. Proceedings in Life Sciences. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-87599-1_2

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-87599-1_2

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-87601-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-87599-1

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics